Rammed Earth and Stone Wall Construction Quiz

A method where a mold (form) is moved vertically, layer by layer, as the wall is built. Rammed earth is compacted into the form, creating a solid wall section after each lift.

A natural building material made by compacting a mixture of moist clay, sand, silt, and often gravel into layers. The layers are tamped down tightly, creating a strong and stable wall.

Adobe bricks that are mixed with Portland cement or other chemical additives to increase their strength, water resistance, and allow them to be exposed to the elements.

A wall built without mortar, using the weight and balance of carefully arranged stones to hold the structure together.

Provides a waterproof barrier, good for resisting moisture and water damage. The mortar creates a strong and durable binding.

Requires a drainage system to prevent moisture build-up, which adds complexity. Cracks can appear along the mortar joints over time.

Can be built with natural stones, offering a rustic aesthetic. It allows natural ventilation and drainage, good for climates subject to variations in moisture.

Prone to attracting insects and small animals as it does not offer a sealed barrier. Can be less stable compared to wet-laid walls, requiring careful stone selection and placement.

A cladding system that creates a physical separation between the exterior facade and the interior wall, allowing ventilation to prevent humidity buildup. It typically includes an outer layer of cladding, an air cavity for drainage, and a drainage plane on a water-resistant support wall.

Bamboo is susceptible to damage from humidity, fungus, insects, and lichens. To ensure longevity and structural stability, it must be treated properly. This can be achieved through methods like pressure treatment with borax salts, temperature steaming, or vertical sap diffusion.

Bundling slender bamboo culms together provides a structural advantage compared to using a single thicker culm. It increases the overall strength and stability of the structure, while still maintaining the benefits of bamboo's flexibility and light weight.

A method of straw bale construction where the bales themselves support the roof and other structural loads. It typically results in a single-story building, requires less skill, is less expensive, but less flexible and more difficult to get permits for.

A method of straw bale construction where the bales are used as insulation and infill within a structural system (e.g., a timber frame). The straw bales do not directly support the roof.

Bundling slender bamboo elements can create stronger and more stable structural elements compared to using single, thicker culms. Bundling allows for a more efficient distribution of stress and a greater resistance to bending and buckling forces.

Classifications of how much exposure to extreme weather conditions a construction material needs to withstand.

Mortar is used to bond masonry units together, while grout is used to fill gaps between masonry units for strength and aesthetics.

Concrete is NOT used in masonry above grade because it's too rigid and doesn't allow for movement due to temperature changes.

Methods to connect two layers of brick (wythes) for structural integrity.

A horizontal structural element that supports the weight above an opening in a wall.

A material's properties vary depending on the direction it's cut.

Different cutting methods affect strength and appearance. Plainsawn has wider grain patterns and is cheaper, while Quartersawn is stronger and more stable due to narrower grain.

The way lumber is cut from a log affects its strength and appearance.

Wood cut parallel to growth rings, resulting in a visible grain pattern. It tends to shrink and swell unevenly, leading to warping and twisting.

Wood cut in a diagonal direction, resulting in a more stable and consistent material. The growth rings are perpendicular to the surface, minimizing warping and movement.

A construction method where each floor is built separately on a platform, creating a fire-resistant barrier between floors. Studs are shorter, spanning only the floor height.

A traditional construction method where studs span the entire height of the building, resulting in less fire resistance. The studs are continuous, without a break at each floor level.

A type of iron with very low carbon content (0.1%). It is soft, ductile, and easily workable, often used for decorative and architectural purposes.

An alloy of iron with a higher carbon content (0.15%-2%). It is stronger than wrought iron, used in construction and infrastructure.

An iron alloy with a high carbon content (2%-4.5%). It is brittle but strong in compression, used for decorative elements and historical structures.

The amount of carbon dramatically affects the properties of iron alloys. Higher carbon content increases hardness and strength but decreases ductility and malleability.

Wrought iron has a higher tensile strength compared to cast iron, making it stronger and more durable. It's often used in applications where high stress resistance is needed.

The amount of carbon in steel affects its strength and hardness. Increasing carbon makes steel harder but reduces its malleability and workability, making it less easy to bend or shape.

A lightweight, prefabricated steel beam with a truss-like internal structure, allowing it to span longer distances while using less material compared to a solid beam.

Understanding the origin of a material, including its natural properties and extraction process, provides valuable information beyond its construction logic. It helps evaluate its sustainability and environmental impact.

This refers to the technical aspects of how a material is used in a structure, analyzing its strength, behavior under load, and suitability for specific applications.

It's important to consider both the material's origin (environmental impact) and construction logic (functional performance) to ensure it's used effectively and sustainably.

Commercialization can lead to a disconnect between the natural properties of a material and its manufactured form. For example, wood can be processed into lumber with specific dimensions, losing its original form in the process.

Sustainability refers to the responsible and ethical use of materials, considering their impact on the environment, resource depletion, and potential for reuse or recycling.

Nominal dimensions are standard sizes assigned to lumber, but they don't reflect the actual size. For example, a 2x4 is not actually 2 inches by 4 inches.

CLT (Cross Laminated Timber) is made by layering wood panels perpendicular to each other, while Glulam (Glued Laminated Timber) is made by bonding several layers of wood together in the same direction.

Rammed earth uses compacted, unfired clay and is often stabilized with Portland cement to increase strength. It has good thermal mass and can be locally sourced.

Stabilized adobe bricks contain additives like Portland cement, which makes them stronger, less prone to water damage, and more structurally viable.

Brick construction offers modularity, good compression strength, and allows for various patterns and reinforcements with mortar, steel, and grout.

A wythe is a vertical layer of bricks, while a course is a horizontal layer of bricks.

Stone is naturally occurring, fire-resistant, and non-renewable. It can be dry-stacked or laid with mortar, offering different aesthetics and performance.

Concrete is a mixture of cement, aggregate (sand, gravel), and water. Aggregates are larger stones that provide bulk and strength.

Concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension. It can be formed into various shapes using formwork, and steel reinforcement is used for tension.

Bamboo is renewable, fast-growing, lightweight, strong in tension, and has good elasticity. It can be used for curved geometries and requires specific joining techniques.

Timber framing uses larger and heavier timber elements, often with exposed beams, while traditional framing uses smaller dimension lumber.

Glass can be annealed, heat-strengthened, insulated, used in sheets or blocks. It offers transparency, translucence, and opacity.

Glass can control light transmittance, illuminance, and luminance, affecting the brightness, visibility, and heat gain within a building.

Glass blocks are often connected with mortar as a binding agent and may be reinforced for strength. They allow light to pass through while providing a solid barrier.